New CEO Of Idled Aberdeen Beef Plant Optimistic

Aberdeen, SD

The new CEO of a beef plant that has sat idle in Aberdeen since 2012 is optimistic about the facility's future.

New Angus CEO Doug Cooper said that he's working on a five-year plan for the plant. He says the goal for the plant is to eventually employ nearly 600 people and handle up to 1,000 head of cattle per day.

Formerly called Northern Beef Packers, the plant filed for bankruptcy last summer because it lacked money to buy cattle for slaughter. The company declared $138.8 million in liabilities and $79.3 million in assets. It was sold to a California investment firm in December.

State figures show that about $4.4 million in taxpayers' money supported the failed plant.